Coiled disposable handcuffs and apparatus for coiling the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to disposable police restraints (hand cuffs), of both the single loop variety and the double loop variety. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coiling such cuffs, which are normally carried in their open configuration, or in a partially closed loop, into a small, easy to carry, and easy to use, coiled cuff form. Other embodiments of the present invention are the coiled disposable cuffs themselves, both in the single loop form and the double loop form.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned,copending application Ser. No. 09/410,129 filed 30 Sep. 1999, now______. The disclosure of that application is hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to disposable handcuffs, of boththe single loop variety and the double loop variety. These bulkyproducts would find more use by police and other security personnel ifthey could be carried in a more convenient manner.

[0003] Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method andapparatus for coiling such cuffs, which are normally carried in theiropen configuration, or in a partially closed loop, into a small, easy tocarry, and easy to use, coiled cuff form. Other embodiments of thepresent invention are the coiled disposable cuffs themselves, both inthe single loop form and the double loop form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Temporary police restraints are those which are used once anddisposed of after use. The restraint is typically made of a semi-rigidpolymeric material such as nylon with a permanent locking head. See, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,254, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. In order to release such restraints,the strap cut apart, as otherwise the strap cannot be manually releasedfrom the locked engagement with the head. Temporary restraints of thistype have been used for many years and in many forms, both as a singleloop restraint and in recent years as a double loop restraint. See forexample U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,910,831, 5,159,728 and 5,398,383, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Single loop cuffs are typically made from an elongated,substantially flat strap having a toothed socket clasp located at oneend. Double loop cuffs are typically made from two elongated,substantially flat straps having a toothed socket clasp located at themidpoint. The cuffs are used by inserting the free end(s) into theopening(s) in the socket clasp. The strap(s) also have a toothedsurface, and the teeth allow forward movement which makes the loop(s)smaller and tighter, but do not permit withdrawal of the strap(s) fromthe clasp(s).

[0006] The problem with such temporary restraints, whether single loopor double loop, is that they are very bulky, and are thus awkward tostore and carry. The cuffs are a semi-rigid, substantially unbreakablepolymeric material that generally lies flat, extending from about 15 to25 inches in length for the single cuffs and about 40 to 60 inches inlength for the double cuffs. The police officer needs to have readyavailability of these restraints when they are needed. Often suchrestraints are employed in crowd and/or riot situations, where a numberof such restraints are required. Disposable restraints would be muchmore useful if the police officers could carry a number of therestraints on their person in a convenient manner.

[0007] Some manufacturers have tried to solve the bulkiness problem bymaking one or more “folds” or using hinges in the cuffs, therebyallowing the cuffs to be carried in a more compact manner. See forexample the Monadnock EZ fold cuff, available from Monadnock LifetimeProducts, Inc. of Fitzwilliam, N.H., and the ASP Tri-fold cuff,available from Armament Systems & Procedures, Appleton, Wis. The ASPcuff is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,110, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. When a cuff of this type isfolded, you must pinch the cross-section of the cuff material (e.g.,Nylon) taking strength away from it. By pinching the cross-section, thecross-section is kinked, often making the cuff more difficult to usethan if it were not kinked. Hinges introduce a weak spot in the cuff,which defeats the purpose of using the cuff as a restraint. Even whenfolded, disposable cuffs of both the single loop and especially thedouble loop variety are still quite bulky and awkward to carry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention solves the problems of the prior artdisposable cuffs, of both the single loop variety and the double loopvariety, by providing a method and apparatus for coiling these cuffsinto a small, easy to carry, and easy to use, coiled cuff form. Otherembodiments of the present invention are the coiled disposable cuffsthemselves, both in the single loop form and the double loop form.

[0009] The term “coiled” as used herein, describes a wound version,preferably a tightly wound version, of the strap portion of the cuffdevice, wound in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise manner, tosignificantly reduce the size of the otherwise very bulky cuff, topermit easy carrying of the same.

[0010] Disposable cuffs have a head member (a locking socket) and one ormore strap members. Once the strap and is properly inserted into thelocking socket of the head member, the strap cannot be removed, and itmust be cut to be released. To coil a disposable cuff according to thisinvention, the end of each strap is wound in a circular manner towardthe head member a number of times, producing a number of concentricloops of the strap material. Preferably at least three such concentricloops are formed by the coiling of the strap. More preferably at leastfour concentric loops are formed during the coiling process. If desired,a band member may be employed to secure the coil(s) against the head ofthe cuff.

[0011] In the single loop form, the locking socket can be wound insidethe strap, or the strap can be wound leaving the socket on the outsideof the coil. In the double loop form, the two straps are normally woundseparately, such that the coils are gathered about the central socketmember.

[0012] Bingold, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,728, teaches a semi-rigiddisposable cuff in which the straps can be inserted into two non-lockingapertures located in the central head member, thereby forming one ormore loose loops. The head apertures are only wide enough to permit asingle passage of the straps there through. Such wide open loops(forming at most-two concentric circles) are specifically excluded fromthe definition of the term “coiled” as used herein.

[0013] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the coiledcuffs are prepared by rolling or coiling the free end(s) of twocommercially available temporary restraints manufactured by MonadnockLifetime Products, Inc., and currently sold under the trademarks SPARECUFF™ and DOUBLE CUFF™ for the single loop variety and the double loopvariety, respectively. These products are both manufactured from ½ inchwide; {fraction (3/32)} inch thick (minimum) impact enhanced Nylon 66.These cuffs each have a ⅛ inch thick edge and a tensile strength of over350 lbs. Once placed on a detainee's wrist(s) or ankles, the cuffs canonly be removed by cutting them off. Monadnock sells a Cuff Cutter, butother cutting devices suitable for cutting Nylon 66 can be used. See forexample the cuff cutter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,669.

[0014] In accordance with the preferred method of the present invention,the cuffs are coiled into a compact mass by rolling or coiling the freeend(s) of the cuff into a very tight, compact package, and securing thecoil(s) with a band around the perimeter of the coil. The free end ofthe single loop cuff is coiled into a single coil unit. The two freeends of the double loop cuff are coiled into a two coil unit, bothpreferably being held together by a single band of plastic material(e.g., a cable tie) looped around the periphery of the coil or coils.The Monadnock products are especially amenable to this coiling andbanding, because the ⅛ inch thick outer edges of the cuffs provides acentral depression where the band can easily be secured.

[0015] As described above, after the end(s) of the cuff have been rolledinto the desired compact configuration, the coil must be stabilized bybanding it with a material strong enough to hold it in place, butflexible enough to allow it to be easily removed when needed. Thebanding material preferably used in this invention is a small plastic,e.g., Nylon loop, which easily slips onto the coil, and which can alsobe easily pushed or pulled off of the coil, freeing the cuff for use.While Nylon is preferred, other types of similar polymeric materials maylikewise be employed. Conventional cable ties are useful for thispurpose, as they have a locking head which makes the banding easy toaccomplish.

[0016] The rolling or coiling of the free end(s) of the cuffs requiresspecial tooling, which is described in detail below. This tooling andmethod of the present invention thus permit the formation of a compactdisposable hand cuff, which retains the full strength of the materialsused in the construction, and introduces no weak points, as aretypically found in the folded or hinged cuffs of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIGS. 1A-1E show the prior art version of a preferred double loopvariety of disposable handcuff used in the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows the preferred apparatus for coiling single loop ordouble loop disposable handcuffs according to the method of the presentinvention.

[0019]FIG. 3 shows the starting position for coiling a double loopdisposable handcuff in the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0020]FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the drive gears in the apparatusof FIG. 2.

[0021]FIG. 5 shows the end position of a coiled double loop disposablehandcuff, formed in the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows the overwrapped and secured coiled double loopdisposable handcuff, separated from the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0023]FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show the preferred single loop cuff of thepresent invention in its uncoiled form (A), banded coiled form (B), andalternate banded coiled form (C).

[0024]FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show the preferred double loop cuff of thepresent invention in its uncoiled form (A), banded coiled form (B), andalternate banded coiled form (C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025]FIGS. 1A-1E show the prior art version of a preferred disposabledouble loop handcuff 10 used in the present invention, namely theMonadnock DOUBLE CUFF™. This cuff has two straps 12 and 14 and a centrallocking head member 16. See also, U.S. Design Pat. No. 347,156, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Thepreferred prior art single loop handcuff used in the present inventionis the Monadnock SPARE CUFF™. Similar disposable handcuffs from othermanufacturers are likewise amenable to being coiled according to themethod of the present invention into a compact and easy to use form, astaught herein.

[0026]FIGS. 2-6 best illustrate the apparatus used to coil a double loopcuff according to the method of the present invention. The sameapparatus may be used for coiling a single cuff, but one end of thecuff, advantageously the socket clasp end, is either held in place byhand, or it is mounted into a holder (not shown).

[0027] As described in FIGS. 2-6, the apparatus which is used in thecoiling of the cuffs according to the method of the present inventioncomprises two 0.750 inch diameter mandrels 26 & 28 which are spacedapart at a precise distance so as to allow the coils of the cuffmaterial form, in a tight and compact manner, and in the double loopversion, advantageously having the two coils be at the same timecompressed together for maximum compactness.

[0028] The mandrels are advantageously slotted through the center with aslot in the shape of a radius in order to hold the two sections beingrolled tight to the mandrels. The two mandrels are counter rotated usingdrive gears 42 & 44, such that they move toward one another in order tocoil the strap cuff sections 12 & 14 tight against the middle section16. The radius slots also assist in allowing the coiled cuff to bestripped off of the mandrels in tact and not unrolled.

[0029] As best illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the drive gears which move thecounter rotating mandrels are advantageously powered by a motor 22,because of the force needed to compact the Nylon material employed inthe manufacture of the cuffs. If other materials are used in themanufacture of such cuffs, hand power could be sufficient to allow thecoiling.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a movable plate 24 is used, placedover the two mandrels, so that the cuff, once it has been tightly coiledand secured with a band, can be ejected from the mandrels. This may beaccomplished by applying a yoke with a handle, attached to the plate,which forces the plate forward to eject the coiled and banded cuff.Another feature of the Monadnock cuff which allows the cuff to staytogether once it is rolled together and not to unroll, is the width ofthe cuff in combination with the high ridges on the sides cuff.

[0031]FIGS. 7A and 7B show the preferred single loop cuff of the presentinvention in its uncoiled form (A) and coiled form (B) held in thecoiled form by an outside plastic loop. FIG. 7C shows the outsideplastic loop with a separate locking head member 74 (e.g., a plasticcable tie).

[0032]FIGS. 8A and 8B show the preferred double loop cuff of the presentinvention in its uncoiled form (A) and coiled form (B) held in thecoiled form by an outside plastic loop. FIG. 8C shows the outsideplastic loop with a separate locking head member 86 (e.g., a plasticcable tie).

[0033] This method for rolling a single or double cuff to compact it foreasy storage and carrying convenience has very important advantages. Itdoes not weaken the cuff cross-sectional strength as do pinchingmethods. It also does not kink the cross-section, which makes itdifficult to open and use. Finally, the coiling method produces adisposable cuff, in either a single loop version or a double loopversion that is much smaller in length than comparable cuffs folded orhinged. By virtue of this invention, police officers and other securitypersonnel (e.g., airport and airline security, building security, andthe like) can carry any number of these disposable cuffs on theirperson, or in a small bag, ready for immediate use.

[0034] The present invention has been described in detail, including thepreferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated thatthose skilled in the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure,may make modifications and/or improvements on this invention and stillbe within the scope and spirit of this invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming a compact disposable policerestraint comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a cuff devicecomprising at least one elongated, substantially flat semi-rigid strap,connected to a toothed socket clasp; (b) rolling the flat strap of thecuff device into a coil; and (c) securing the coil with a plasticbanding device.
 2. A compact disposable police restraint formed by themethod of claim
 1. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cuff devicecomprises a single substantially flat, toothed strap and a single slot,toothed socket clasp at one end thereof.
 4. A compact disposable policerestraint formed by the method of claim
 3. 5. The method of claim 3,wherein the flat strap is rolled so as to leave the toothed socket claspon the outside of the coil.
 6. A compact disposable police restraintformed by the method of claim
 5. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein theflat strap is rolled so as to place the toothed socket clasp on theinside of the coil.
 8. A compact disposable police restraint formed bythe method of claim
 7. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cuff devicecomprises two substantially flat, semi-rigid toothed straps and a twoslot, toothed socket clasp at one about the midpoint of said straps. 10.A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of claim 9.11. Apparatus for manufacturing a compact disposable police restraint,said apparatus comprising two spaced apart, rotatable mandrels, whichwhen rotated will form coils from an elongated, substantially flat strapof a cuff device attached thereto.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the mandrels are slotted through the center, with the slotshaving the shape of a radius.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein themandrels are counter rotated using drive gears, such that they movetoward one another in order to coil the cuff sections tight against eachother.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive gears which movethe counter rotating mandrels are powered by a motor.
 15. The apparatusof claim 11, further comprising a movable plate, mounted over the twomandrels, so that the cuff, once it has been tightly coiled and securedwith a band, can be ejected from the mandrels.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15, further comprising a yoke with a handle, attached to themovable plate, which forces the plate forward to eject the coiled andbanded cuff.
 17. A disposable handcuff comprising a single tightlycoiled semi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket claspat one end thereof.
 18. A disposable handcuff comprising a single coiledsemi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket clasp at oneend thereof, further comprising a plastic banding device holding thecoil in place.
 19. A disposable handcuff comprising two tightly coiledsemi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at aboutthe midpoint of said straps.
 20. A disposable handcuff comprising twocoiled semi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp atabout the midpoint of said straps, further comprising a plastic bandingdevice holding the coils in place.
 21. A method of forming a compactdisposable police restraint comprising the steps of: (a) selecting adisposable police restraint device comprising at least one semi-rigidstrap connected to a toothed socket clasp; (b) coiling the rigid strapof the device into a small, tight coil having at least three concentriccoiled loops; and (c) securing the compact police restraint with aplastic banding device capable of maintaining the coiled shape of thedevice.
 22. A disposable handcuff comprising a single tightly coiledsemi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket clasp at oneend thereof, further comprising a banding device holding the coil inplace, made by the method of claim
 21. 23. The disposable handcuff ofclaim 22, wherein the semi-rigid strap comprises Nylon.
 24. Thedisposable handcuff of claim 23, wherein the Nylon is impact enhancedNylon
 66. 25. A method of forming a compact disposable police restraintcomprising the steps of: (a) selecting a disposable police restraintdevice comprising two semi-rigid straps, each connected to oppositesides of a toothed socket clasp; (b) coiling the semi-rigid straps ofthe device into individual small tight coils, each having at least threeconcentric coiled loops; and (c) securing the compact coiled policerestraint with a banding device capable of maintaining the coiled shapesof the straps.
 26. A disposable handcuff comprising two tightly coiledsemi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at aboutthe midpoint of said straps, made by the method of claim
 25. 27. Thedisposable handcuff of claim 26, wherein the semi-rigid strap comprisesNylon.
 28. The disposable handcuff of claim 27, wherein the Nylon isimpact enhanced Nylon 66.